Ministry of Women and Child Development
SCHEME TO IMPROVE NUTRITION LEVEL OF PREGNANT WOMEN
Under Mission SakshamAnganwadi and Poshan 2.0, time-tested traditional wisdom in community nutritional practices is sought to be leveraged
Supplementary nutrition is provided to beneficiaries through the network of 13.97 lakh AWC located across the country by providing morning snacks, Hot Cooked Meals and Take Home Ration . The primary focus of the Supplementary Nutrition Programme is to bridge the gap between recommended dietary allowance and the average daily intake. State governments have been advised by the Ministry of Women and Child Dvelopment to promote diet diversity, agro-climatic regional meal plans and adopt AYUSH practices in the Supplementary Nutrition Programme .
Government has approved “SakshamAnganwadi and Poshan 2.0”- An Integrated Nutrition Support Programme scheme of MWCD, during the 15th Finance Commission period 2021-22 to 2025-26. The “Common Core” of SakshamAnganwadi and Poshan 2.0 centre on Maternal Nutrition, Infant and Young Child Feeding Norms, Treatment Protocols for SAM/MAM and Wellness through AYUSH practices to reduce wasting and under-weight prevalence besides stunting and anemia.
Under Mission SakshamAnganwadi and Poshan 2.0, time-tested traditional wisdom in community nutritional practices is sought to be leveraged through Ayush formulations and simple Ayurveda interventions to improve digestive capacity, absorption of nutrients, address anemia and aid in management of malnutrition for the holistic nourishment of children, pregnant women and lactating mothers.
As per the guidelines of Mission SakshamAnganwadi and Poshan 2.0, convergence with Ministry of Ayush is envisaged as follows:
- Populate PoshanVatikas with medicinal plant and saplings, technical assistance, etc.
- Recommend local recipes integrating locally grown vegetables & food substances, red rice, various millets etc. Ghee or locally produced oils in Take Home Ration  recipes and cow’s milk
- Recommend various AYUSH practices/products that have been successfully used for reducing wasting, anemia, and low birth weight and bolster immunity. In some districts of the country, anAyush component has been included in Take-Home Ration for Pregnant Women, Lactating Mother and Children.
Ministry has also endorsed and circulated to all States/ UTs, general dietary advisory, advisory for pregnant women, lactating mothers, children, specific recommendations for anemia in pregnancy and malnourished children, developed by Ministry of Ayush.
As per the SakshamAnganwadi and Poshan 2.0 Scheme guidelines and Streamlined Guidelines issued on 13th January 2021, the District Nutrition Committee chaired by the District Magistrate includes the District –in charge Ayush Officer as a member, with responsibilities as follows:
- Focus on prevention of diseases and promote wellness through Yoga at AWCs and households.
- Identify medicinal plants and herbs, fruit trees for cultivation in PoshanVatikas
The Guidelines have emphasized on scaling-up of successful projects to manage anemia, e.g., pilot on ‘Drakshavaleha’ and promote use of AYUSH diet under Poshan 2.0 in co-ordination with Anganwadi Centres and Schools.
Government is encouraging setting up of PoshanVatikas  at or near Anganwadicenters , state-owned schools wherever possible, and on Gram Panchayat lands where women and children are most likely to benefit. This will help to provide food security and diet diversity to address malnutrition at the community level; address micro nutrient deficiency-related malnutrition and supplement staple-based diets/rations to meet requirements of essential nutrients with a significant amount of macro and micro nutrients.
Ayush practices focusing on prevention of diseases and promotion of wellness through Yoga, cultivation of medicinal herbs in PoshanVatikas, and use of AYUSH formulations to treat underlying disorders has been considered under SakshamAnganwadi and Poshan 2.0 for the holistic nourishment of children, pregnant women and lactating mothers. Total 41106 PoshanVatikas has been developed in Uttar Pradesh .
This information was given by the MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT, SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.